Did DVC Ruin Vijayadashmi Celebrations with Unannounced Water Release?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Mamata Banerjee criticized the DVC for disrupting festivities.
- The DVC released 65,000 cusecs of water without notice.
- The Chief Minister emphasized public safety concerns.
- Past grievances with DVC over water releases were highlighted.
- The DVC maintains that releases follow regulatory discussions.
Kolkata, Oct 3 (NationPress) Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday criticized the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) for disrupting the festive atmosphere in the state during Vijayadashmi on Thursday. She stated that the DVC released a significant volume of water from its reservoirs without notifying the West Bengal government beforehand.
Chief Minister Banerjee emphasized that Vijayadashmi signifies the end of Durga Puja, a period filled with joy, celebration, and hope.
However, she lamented that instead of allowing the citizens of West Bengal to peacefully conclude the festivities, the DVC released 65,000 cusecs of water without any advance warning.
“This reckless behavior is nothing less than an effort to bring distress during our sacred celebrations,” the Chief Minister remarked in a social media post.
She condemned the DVC's unilateral decision as disgraceful and completely intolerable.
“By discharging water without prior notice, the DVC has endangered millions of lives in Bengal. This does not qualify as a natural disaster; it is a catastrophe created by the DVC,” the Chief Minister stated in her social media update.
She also indirectly accused the DVC of attempting to disrupt Bisarjan (immersion) in West Bengal and warned that she would not permit this to occur.
“Let me be clear: I will not allow anyone to execute a Bisarjan of Bengal. Every plot against our people will be met with full resistance. The truth will outshine deceit, and good will triumph over evil,” the Chief Minister asserted.
In previous instances, the Chief Minister has voiced her concerns regarding the DVC's practice of releasing substantial amounts of water from its reservoirs without prior notification to the state government.
Last year, she even appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for intervention to prevent the DVC from releasing water from its dams without informing the state authorities.
Nevertheless, the DVC has consistently denied these allegations, claiming that water releases are conducted based on discussions within the Damodar Valley Reservoir Regulation Committee (DVRRC), where the West Bengal government is always represented, thus deeming the allegations unfounded.